Commentary
This article is appropriate for this time in our industry and society. Dr. Sah’s perspectives are worth considering as we are asked to act, accept and adopt at what often seems like warp speed. Her framework is based on behavioral science research that defines ways to act intentionally, effectively and true to your values. She shares her simple, actionable guide she calls the Defiance Compass as a navigation aid to orient yourself in difficult situations by asking three questions.
Defiance is not about being oppositional for its own sake. It’s about choosing to act in line with your values when there is pressure to do otherwise.”
Source: The Conversation, October 2, 2025. Link. Defiance may be risky, but it’s never been more relevant, writes Sunita Sah, PhD. She has studied why people comply, staying silent when they don’t want to, and how they can resist wisely. She says defiance isn’t a fixed trait that some people are born with and others lack, rather it’s a practice: a skill you can strengthen over time.